NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday demanded from Pakistan to live up to its public commitment to refrain from supporting and sponsoring terrorism.

The strongly worded demand comes after the attack on an Indian army base in the Uri sector of India-held Kashmir (IHK), and was conveyed by Vikas Swarap, spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi Abdul Basit earlier today to lodge a protest against what India claims to be cross-border terrorism.

“Pakistan had made a solemn commitment in January 2004 to not allow its soil or territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India,” said the Indian demarche.

The demarche added that the “growing violation of this undertaking is a matter of very serious concern”.

The Indian MEA also claimed that there have been at least 17 cases of armed men crossing over the LoC to carry out attacks in India, which were interdicted and resulted in the deaths of 31 terrorists.

In addition, the MEA also alleged it had recovered various items in recent incidents which point to the alleged Pakistani-origin of the attackers.

GPS from the bodies of the alleged terrorists which include the coordinates and indicate the time and location of the infiltration point

Grenades with alleged Pakistani markings

Communication matrix sheets

Communication equipment

Other stores made allegedly in Pakistan

India has conveyed to Pakistan, in the protest lodged with Basit, that it is also willing to share finger prints and DNA of the attackers killed in Uri and Poonch sectors, if Pakistan would be willing to investigate the attacks.

“We now expect a response from the Government of Pakistan,” said the demarche.

Attack and allegations

Heavily-armed suspected militants killed 17 Indian soldiers in a pre-dawn raid earlier this week on an army base in India-held Kashmir (IHK), the worst such attack for years in the disputed Himalayan region.

The ‘militants’ first attacked a frontline base close to the Line of Control (LoC) before moving onto the brigade headquarters at Uri.

Four suspected militants were also killed during the gunbattle with Indian security forces.